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The estates of the kingdom of Scotland, convened at this time by his majesty's special authority and command, taking into their consideration the great blessings this his majesty's ancient kingdom does now enjoy under his royal government, being thereby delivered from all the miseries and bondage that do accompany the iron rod of an insolent usurpation, and possessed of all the liberties and privileges of a free people living under the royal sceptre of their lawful prince, and that by a full and free exercise of their religion, with all suitable encouragements thereto, by an equal and due administration of justice, and peaceable and secure enjoyment of their laws, rights and properties, do find themselves obliged in conscience, honour and gratitude to embrace every occasion whereby they may witness to the world their just resentments thereof, and their readiness to contribute their lives and fortunes for the maintaining and advancing of his majesty's loyal authority, power and greatness, under the protection whereof, the peace, freedom and interest of this kingdom and subjects thereof is and can only be secured. And understanding that his sacred majesty is now engaged in a war with the inhabitants of the United Provinces, for the maintenance of his own honour, and the peace and trade of his kingdoms, and that thereby a new opportunity is offered to them to make good their professions of zeal and affection to his majesty's service; therefore, the estates of the kingdom, in a due sense of his majesty's honour and interest, and of their own duty do, with humble, loyal and cheerful hearts, for themselves and in name of the whole kingdom, whom they do represent, make humble and free tender to his majesty of a taxation, which they do humble beseech his majesty would be graciously pleased to accept of, and which is to be paid in manner, and at the terms following; that is to say, the dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, lords and commissioners of shires, for the temporal estate, have granted that there shall be uplifted of every pound land of old extent within this kingdom, pertaining to dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, lords, barons and freeholders, and feuars of his majesty's proper lands, the sum of 40s money at every one of the five terms following, namely, the sum of 40s at the term of Whitsunday [3 June], in the year of God 1666, the sum of another 40s at the term of Whitsunday [26 May] 1667, the sum of another 40s at the term of Whitsunday [10 May] 1668, the sum of another 40s at the term of Whitsunday [30 May] 1669, and the sum of another 40s at the term of Whitsunday [22 May] 1670, being the last term; and the archbishops and bishops, for the spiritual estate, have granted that there shall be uplifted of all archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbacies, priories and other inferior benefices within this kingdom, at every one of the five terms above-specified, the just taxation thereof proportionally according to the sum of 40s money now imposed upon the pound land, as they have been accustomed to be taxed to in all time bygone, when the temporal lands of this kingdom were stented only to 30s the pound land of old extent, with the addition of a fourth part more, and the same taxation to be paid at every one of the five terms above-specified; and the commissioners of burghs, for their estate, have granted that there shall be uplifted of all the burghs of this kingdom, at every one of the five terms above-specified, the just taxation thereof proportionally according to the sum of 40s now imposed upon the pound land, as they have been accustomed to be taxed to in all time bygone, when the temporal lands of this kingdom were stented only to 30s the pound land of old extent, with the addition of a fourth part more to be paid at the respective terms above-written.
And in regard that his majesty has erected sundry prelacies and temporal lordships, whereby the owners thereof may claim to be taxed with the barons of the temporal estate, and thereby his majesty would be defrauded of a great part of the said taxation; therefore, the said estates ordain that all erections of prelacies and other small benefices, in whole or in part, in temporal lordships, shall in payment of the said taxation, pay to the collector thereof so much of the same taxation (pro rata) as if they were in no way erected, and as they were subject to do before the erection of the same. And also, it is statute and ordained that all dissolved benefices within this kingdom, in whole or in part, shall be subject in payment of so much of the same taxation (pro rata) as they would have been subject to pay though the same had not been dissolved, and that those parties who have got any part or portion of any prelacies, or other inferior benefices, dissolved and new securities made to them by his majesty of that part and portion thereof so dissolved, shall be subject, in payment of the taxation thereof, to the prelate or other beneficed person, for his relief of the same taxation, as they would have been so the same had not been dissolved; notwithstanding of any condition contained in the infeftments and securities made by his majesty to them in the contrary thereof. And further, his majesty, with advice and consent of the said estates, declares that the lands and teinds belonging in property to the ordinary lords of the session, the advocates, clerks, writers to the signet and other members of the college of justice, and all feu duties payable to them out of the lands whereof they are superiors, all benefices given, conveyed and mortified for entertainment of universities, colleges, schools or hospitals (the vassals holding of the said ordinary lords of the session and other members of the college of justice, and of the said universities, colleges, schools and hospitals being always liable in payment of this taxation for their lands so held as others of his majesty's subjects) all modified stipends and vicarages where they are not† a part of the said modified [...]† all parsonages and vicarages belonging to ministers serving the cure where the said parsonages and vicarages do not exceed the value appointed by the acts of parliament for a modified stipend, are and shall be free from payment of any part of this present taxation, and discharges and disannuls all privileges and immunities whereby any person may conceive himself free of the payment of any part of this present taxation, except as above excepted, and ordains the said senators of the college of justice and other members thereof, and the persons in whose favour any lands, teinds or superiorities have been given, conveyed and mortified for entertainment of universities, colleges, schools or hospitals, to send in to the collector general of the taxation or clerk thereof a note under their hands sixty days before the first term's payment of this taxation of the lands, teinds and feu duties belonging to them, as said is, within what shire they lie, and if they be kirk lands what benefice they hold of; and also ordains the archbishops and bishops to send in to the said collector or clerk, between now and the time foresaid, a note under their hands of the parsonages and vicarages belonging to ministers serving the cure within their respective diocese which do not exceed the proportion allowed by the acts of parliament for a modified stipend.
And for the more speedy and effectual collection of the spiritual men's part of this said taxation, ordains letters to be directed as formerly charging all and sundry archbishops and bishops, abbots, priors; as likewise all noblemen and others in whose favour the erection of any prelacy or other inferior benefice, or any part or portion thereof, be it in lands, kirks or teinds, or in whose favour their patronage of any benefice, kirks or teinds are passed, and all other beneficed persons contained in the tax rolls, their heritable bailies, chamberlains, factors and intromitters with their rents and livings personally, or at their dwelling places, and by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burghs of the sheriffdoms, stewartries and bailiaries where the said prelacies or erected lordships and small benefices lie, if they be within this kingdom, and if they be without this kingdom by open proclamation at the market cross of Edinburgh, pier and shore of Leith, upon sixty days warning to make payment of that sum that they and each one of them are taxed to for every one of the said five terms to the collector general of the said taxation appointed or to be appointed by his majesty or his deputies, and officers in his name, having his power and commission to receive the same at the particular terms above-written, under the pain of rebellion and putting of them to the horn, and if they fail therein, at the passing of every one of the said terms, to denounce the disobeyers as rebels and put them to the horn and to escheat etc., and that the prelates and beneficed persons and such noblemen and others in whose favour the erections and patronages above-written are passed for their relief, have letters as formerly, charging their vassals, sub-vassals, ladies of terce, conjunct fiars, liferenters, proper wadsetters, who were not accountable for the surplus of the rents, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners, to make payment of their part of the said taxation each one of them (pro rata) according to the sum they shall be taxed on to the said prelates and other beneficed persons, and to the said noblemen and others having power to receive the same, within twenty days next after the charge, under the pain of rebellion etc; and if they fail etc., to denounce etc. and escheat etc, and to poind and distrenzie thereof as they should think most expedient, providing always that the first term's payment of the said taxation is ever past before the next term's payment is charged for. And the estates declare that the production of sufficient hornings against the said vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners shall be a relief to the said prelates, lords of erections and beneficed persons, and shall exonerate them (for as much) from payment of the said taxation, providing that the same hornings with their tax rolls, authentically made and subscribed by the said prelates, lords of erections and other beneficed persons, and by their feuars, vassals, tacksmen and pensioners in manner hereafter prescribed, containing the particular sums which each one of them are taxed to, is delivered to the collector of the same taxation, within the space of sixty days after every term, otherwise he shall be in no way obliged to receive the same, neither shall the prelate, lord of erection nor beneficed person be exonerated by production of the same at any time thereafter.
And further, that the said prelates and such noblemen and others, in whose favour the erections and patronages above-written are passed, and all other beneficed persons may have their relief of their vassals, sub-vassals, ladies of terce, conjunct fiars, liferenters, feuars, wadsetters foresaid, tacksmen and pensioners, to the greater ease and less trouble to the said vassals and others foresaid, and to the effect that every one proportionally may pay his part of the said taxation, according to the quantity and value of the free rent which he has of his benefice, lands, pensions, kirks and teind sheaves pertaining to him, as well prelate, lord of erection, patron and other beneficed persons themselves, as the feuar, tacksman and pensioner, it is thought expedient, statute and ordained that the said prelates and others above-rehearsed, every one of them severally, shall convene his whole feuars, vassals, tacksmen and pensioners at the particular places hereafter designed, that is to say, the archbishop of St Andrews at the city of St Andrews, the archbishop of Glasgow at the city of Glasgow, the bishop of Edinburgh at the city of Edinburgh, the bishop of Orkney at the town of Kirkwall, the bishop of Caithness at the town of Dornoch, the bishop of Ross at the town of Chanonry of Ross, the bishop of Moray at the town of Elgin, the bishop of Aberdeen at the burgh of Aberdeen, the bishop of Brechin at the burgh of Brechin, the bishop of Dunkeld at the town of Dunkeld, the bishop of Dunblane at the town of Dunblane, the bishop of Galloway at the town of Wigtown, the bishop of Argyll at the town of Inverary, the bishop of the Isles at the burgh of Rothesay on Bute, the abbot of Iona at the burgh of Rothesay, the prior of Ardchattan at the burgh of Rothesay, the abbot of Fearn at the burgh of Tain, the Lord Beauly at the burgh of Inverness, the lord of Kinloss at the burgh of Forres, the prior of Pluscarden at the burgh of Elgin, the lord of Deer at the town of Peterhead, the prior of Fyvie at the town of Turriff, the prior of Monymusk at the town of Monymusk, the heritable bailie of the lordship of Arbroath at the burgh of Arbroath, the lord of Scone at the burgh of Perth, the Lord Coupar at the town of Coupar in Angus, the prior of Restenneth at the burgh of Forfar, the collector of this present taxation in place of the priors of Charterhouse, the seat now vacant, at the burgh of Perth, and the like in other cases where any seats are vacant at the places appointed by this present act, the prior of Elcho at the burgh of Perth, the prior of Strathfillan at the kirk of Comrie, the lord of Inchaffray at the burgh of Perth, the prior of Inchmahome at the burgh of Stirling, the bailie of the regality of Dunfermline at the burgh of Dunfermline, the Lord Balmerino at the burgh of Cupar in Fife, the Lord Lindores at the burgh of Cupar in Fife, the masters of St Leonards College in St Andrews, for the priory of Portmoak at the burgh of Cupar in Fife, the prior of Pittenweem at the burgh of Pittenweem, the lord of St Colme at the burgh of Inverkeithing, the lord of Culross at the burgh of Culross, the abbot of Cambuskenneth at the burgh of Stirling, the Lord Torphichen at the burgh of Linlithgow, the prior of Manuel at the burgh of Linlithgow, the Lord Newbattle at the city of Edinburgh, the prioress of Haddington at the burgh of Haddington, the lord of the temporal lands of the priory of North Berwick at the burgh of North Berwick, the patron and parson of the kirk of Kilconquhar, dissolved from the priory of North Berwick, at the town of Elie, the patron and parson of the kirk of Largo, dissolved from North Berwick, at the town of Largo, the patron and parson of the kirk of Maybole, dissolved from North Berwick, at the town of Maybole, the patron and parson of the kirk of Logie, dissolved from North Berwick, at the burgh of Stirling, the lord of Kelso at the town of Kelso, the lord of Coldingham at the town of Eyemouth, the lord of Drybrugh at the town of Drybrugh, the prior of Eccles at the town of Duns, the prior of Coldstream at the town of Duns, the lord of Jedburgh at the burgh of Jedburgh, the lords Melrose at the town of Melrose, the lord of Paisley at the town of Paisley, the Lord Blantyre at the city of Glasgow, the lord and bailie of the temporal land of Kilwinning, dissolved from the abbacy of Kilwinning, at the burgh of Irvine, the abbot of Crossraguel at the town of Maybole, the prior of Whithorn at the burgh of Whithorn, the abbot of Soulseat at the burgh of Whithorn, the prior of St Mary's Isle at the burgh of Kirkcudbright, the lord of Dundrennan at the burgh of Kirkcudbright, the lord of Glenluce at the burgh of Wigtown, the abbot of Tongland at the burgh of Wigtown, the abbot of New Abbey† at the city of Edinburgh, the abbot of Holywood at the burgh of Dumfries, the prior of Canonbie at the burgh of Annan, the baron and bailie of the barony of Broughton, dissolved from the lordship of Holyroodhouse, at the city of Edinburgh, the heritors of the hundred pound land of the barony of Monkland, dissolved from the lordship of Newbattle, at the city of Glasgow, the minister of Failford at the burgh of Ayr, the minister of Scotlandwell at the city of St Andrews, the minister of the Cross kirk of Peebles at the burgh of Peebles, the patron and parson of the kirk of Dundee, dissolved from the abbacy of Lindores, at the burgh of Dundee, and all other beneficed persons at the parish kirks of their particular benefices; and that they convene to the effect above-written upon 25 October in this present year of God 1665, which is declared to be the precise day appointed for all their vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners to keep the said meeting; and that no further citation of summoning shall be required than this proclamation and publication of this present act at the market crosses of the head burghs of this kingdom. As also, it is declared, by his majesty and his said estates, that if any vassals, sub-vassals, feuars, tacksmen of teinds, pensioners or any other justly bound to make relief to prelate, lord of erection, patron or other beneficed person, of any part of the said taxation, shall send any procurator in his name sufficiently authorised to the said meeting, the same shall not only excuse the principal party's absence, but the procurators shall be admitted in all things and received to do and perform in the distribution of the said taxation what could or lawfully might have been done by him who sent him. It is likewise declared that the prelate, lord of erection, patron or other beneficed person impeded by disease, or diverted upon some other necessary occasions from attending that meeting, having his absence supplied that day by a sufficient worthy person whom he shall authorise and appoint to that effect, shall be as lawful as if he were personally present himself, and the party so authorised shall be admitted and received in all things to do and perform in the distribution of the same taxation, what could or lawfully might have been done by he who sent him.
It is further statute and ordained that, at the said day of meeting, the said prelates, lords of erection, patrons and other beneficed persons shall, by themselves or by their procurators lawfully authorised, as said is, fence and hold a court, call by name and surname upon every one of their vassals, sub-vassals, proper wadsetters, feuars, tacksmen of teinds, pensioners and others obliged to relieve them of any part of the same taxation, and lawful time of day being bidden to show to their said vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners or their procurators compearing for them, the quantity of the taxation imposed upon the prelacy, erected lordship or other benefice, authentically subscribed by the clerk of the same taxation, and they all (at the least so many of them as shall convene for that effect with consent of the most part) shall distribute the same to be paid by every man, as well as by the prelate, lord of erection and present possessors of small benefice, for the free rent that every one of them has of their prelacies, erected lordships and small benefices, as by the vassal, feuar, tacksman and pensioner according to the great and small quantity of the free rent, which every one of them has either of their lands, teinds or pensions; with certification to any of the said persons, feuars, vassals, tacksmen and pensioners that compear not, by themselves or their procurators, at the day and place specified-above to the effect foresaid, that such as shall convene with the said prelates, lords of erection, patrons or other beneficed persons or their procurators, shall proceed in the equal distribution of the same taxation, as well amongst them that are absent as present, and shall make and subscribe an authentic tax roll thereupon, the teinds valued since the year 1627 being stented and estimated, without respect to the said valuations, also and in the same manner, with the addition of a fourth part as they were for the taxation granted in the year 1633, and to be taxed accordingly, and in case that none of the said vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners shall convene at the day and place above-specified to this effect, by themselves or their procurators, but shall wilfully absent themselves from the said meeting, it shall be lawful for the said prelates, lords of erection, patrons and other beneficed persons, being present by themselves or their procurators, at the day and place above-specified, to make, set down and subscribe the same tax roll, and in case any of the said prelates, lords of erection, patrons or other beneficed persons shall not convene, by themselves or their procurators, at the day and place above-specified, particularly designed to every one of them, it shall be lawful for the said vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners, at the least so many of them as shall convene, by themselves or their procurators, to make, set down and subscribe the said tax roll, which tax roll shall contain the particular sum that every one shall be found justly to be indebted to pay, the parties' name indebted to pay the same and the cause wherefore the same ought to be paid, and being so set down, either by the prelate, lord of erection, patron and other beneficed person, or their lawful procurators, with so many of their vassals, sub-vassals, feuars, tacksmen of teinds, pensioners and others obliged to relieve them of any part of the same taxation, as shall convene with them to this effect, and in case that none shall convene with them, the said roll, being then set down by the prelate, lord of erection, patron or other beneficed person, or their lawful procurators, or in case of their absence, being set down, made and subscribed by the most part of the said vassals, feuars, tacksmen and pensioners by themselves, or their procurators, as shall convene themselves for this effect, his majesty and the said estates declare to be as lawful, in all respects, as if the whole number of persons having interest therein had convened, made, set down and subscribed the same, which tax roll, being so set down, made and subscribed in manner above-written (and not otherwise) and delivered to the clerk of the taxation, and his majesty and the said estates ordain him to give warrant for giving of letters of relief thereupon, discharging him in any case to give warrant for giving of letters of relief upon any roll presented to him not made and authentically subscribed, in form above-written as he will answer to the contrary upon his peril. It is likewise statute and ordained that tacksmen of teinds shall have their relief of their sub-tacksmen for as much, respect being had to the grassum paid by the said sub-tacksmen; and in regard that diverse kirks have been of new erected and several augmentations of ministers' stipends granted since the year 1627, to the diminution of the spirituality, it is therefore statute and ordained that where kirks have been of new erected or any augmentations of ministers' stipends granted since the time foresaid, out of the teinds belonging to archbishops, bishops or other beneficed persons, or to any nobleman or other in whose favour the erection of any prelacy or other inferior benefice, in whole or in part, has been made and passed the collector of the taxation, shall allow and deduct to the said archbishops, bishops or any other beneficed persons, or nobleman and other persons, out of whose teinds the stipends of the new erected kirks and the foresaid augmentations have been granted, and who have got no prorogation in recompense thereof, such a proportion of the said taxation as shall be pertaining to the proportion of the said stipend or augmentation granted out of their teinds; which stipend and augmentation what the same amounts to, shall be attested by the bishop of the diocese, providing that the whole teinds of the said benefices are stented proportionally as they were for the taxation granted in the year 1633 with a fourth part more. And for the collection of the barons' and freeholders' part of the same taxation, and of the feuars and rentallers of our sovereign lord's proper lands their part thereof, ordain letters to be directed as formerly charging all and sundry sheriffs, stewarts, bailies, their deputes, clerks, feuars, chamberlains and receivers of our sovereign lord's proper lands, that they and every one of them, within the bounds of their proper offices, raise and uplift the sum of 40s money of this realm of every pound land of old extent, lying within the bounds of their jurisdictions, for every one of the said five terms above-specified, and collect and deliver the same to the collector foresaid, or to his deputes and officers in his name, having his power to receive the same at the particular terms above-specified, under the pain of rebellion etc., and if they fail, at the bypassing of every one of the said terms, to denounce and escheat etc.; and declare that no privilege or immunity shall be of any force to stop the execution of the law against them upon these matters and for their relief, that letters be directed, as said is, charging all and sundry dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, lords, barons, freeholders, feuars and rentallers of our sovereign lord's proper lands, personally or at their dwelling places, and by open proclamation at the market cross of the head burgh of the sheriffdom, stewartry or bailiary where their lands lie, if they are within the kingdom, and if they are without the kingdom by open proclamation at the market cross of Edinburgh, pier and shore of Leith, upon sixty days' warning, to make payment to the said sheriffs, stewarts, bailies, their deputes and clerks, chamberlains and receivers of our sovereign lord's proper lands, every one of them for their own part respectively of the said sum of 40s money foresaid for every pound land of old extent pertaining to them, for every one of the said five terms, payment within twenty days next after they be charged thereto, under the pain of rebellion etc. and if they fail etc. to denounce and escheat etc. and, if need be, that the said sheriffs, stewarts, bailies, their deputes and clerks, chamberlains and receivers of our sovereign lord's proper lands, poind and distrenzie the readiest goods and gear being upon the said lands thereof, as they shall think most expedient, and that the said noblemen, barons and freeholders, feuars and rentallers of our sovereign lord's proper lands have letters for their relief, as said is, to charge their vassals, sub-vassals, ladies of terce, conjunct fiars, proper wadsetters and liferenters to make payment of their parts of the said taxation within twenty days next after the charge, under the pain of rebellion etc., and if they fail etc. to denounce etc., and escheat etc. and, if need be, that they poind and distrenzie thereof, providing always that the first term's payment of the said taxation is always past before the next term is charged for. And also declare that where any goods are poinded within any of the isles of this kingdom for payment of any part of this taxation, the apprising of the said goods at the parish kirk of the lands where they were poinded, shall be as valid and sufficient as if they were apprised at the head burgh of the shire. And in case any person liable in payment of the taxation within the shires of Inverness, Ross, Argyll, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Shetland shall not make payment of the respective sums due by them within twenty days after they are denounced, then to be further liable in payment of the double of the sums due, and all execution to pass against them thereof. And recommend to the lords of his majesty's privy council to take such further course for collection of the taxation payable out of the forenamed shires as they should think fit. Likewise, his majesty, taking into his gracious consideration the grievances represented to his highness by diverse of his subjects within the shires of Lanark, Ayr, Renfrew, Dunbarton, Bute, Argyll, Wigtown, Dumfries and Peebles anent the high extent of their retours does, with consent of his said estates, declare that as to the present taxation the pound lands of the whole temporal lands within the said shires of Lanark, Ayr, Renfrew, Dunbarton, Bute, Argyll, Wigtown, Dumfries and Peebles, with the stewartries and bailiaries lying within the same, shall only be taxed and pay as if they were merk lands, but that the said retours shall stand and pay as formerly to all other intents and purposes. And for collection of the burghs' part of the same taxation, ordains letters to be directed charging the provost and bailies of each burgh to make payment of the tax and stent thereof to the collector general aforesaid, his deputies and officers in his name, having his power to receive the same at the particular terms above-specified, under the pain of rebellion etc., and if they fail etc. to denounce and escheat etc. and, for their relief, that letters are directed charging the provost, bailies and council within each burgh to convene and elect certain persons to stent their neighbours, and the said election, being made, to charge the persons elected to accept the charge upon them in setting of the said stent upon the burgesses and inhabitants of every burgh, and to convene and set the same and make a stent roll thereupon, as appropriate, within 24 hours next after their charge, under the pain of rebellion etc., and if they fail etc. to denounce and escheat etc., and also the said stent roll being made and set down, as said is, to charge the burgesses, indwellers and inhabitants within each burgh to make payment of their part of the said stent to the said provost and bailies, conforming to the tax roll to be given out thereupon, within three days next after the charge, under the pain of rebellion etc., and if they fail etc. to denounce and escheat etc. and, if need be, that the said provost and bailies poind and distrenzie thereof, as they shall think most expedient. It is always provided that no person whatsoever is to be stented or taxed within burghs except according to the value and quantity of his rent, living, goods and gear which he has within the burgh, in no way respecting his lands or possessions which he has to landward, for the which he will be obliged to pay taxation to other officers, providing always that the first term's payment of the said taxation is always past before the next term is charged for.
Moreover, his majesty and the said estates decree and declare that the charges to be given for payment of the said taxation shall be executed before the terms of payment above-specified for every term's payment particularly by itself, and that the denunciation of the horning following thereupon shall not be executed until the term of payment is past and twenty days thereafter, which denunciation so following upon the charges given before the said terms of payment, his majesty, with consent foresaid, decrees and declares to be valid and sufficient. And his majesty, with consent of the said estates, ordains the lords of session to be only judges to all suspensions to be craved and suited by any of our sovereign lord's lieges touching the said taxation, which suspensions the said estates find may be granted upon lawful and equitable reasons to be considered by them, and discharges all other judges within this kingdom of granting of any suspensions thereupon, with power to the said lords to delegate five at the least of their ordinary number, as they shall think expedient, to sit, examine and decide the said suspensions in time of vacancy, if need be. And lastly the king's majesty declares, in favour of all his subjects liable in payment of this taxation, that they shall not be held to produce their discharges or receipts of the said taxation from and after the term of Whitsunday [18 May] 1673, unless where diligence has been used by denunciations against them before the elapsing of the said term of Whitsunday 1673; and ordains all commissions granted to sub-collectors for uplifting and collection of the said taxation to be inserted and registered in the books of council and session, and this act to be printed and published at the market cross of Edinburgh and other places needful where through none pretend ignorance of the same.†